California Has Been A Mess Of Earthquakes Lately

Something under the earth's crust is starting to get angry. Even though it's common knowledge that California is earthquake country, the past few weeks have had several earthquakes that have even reached as far as Yellowstone National Park. For those of you that have never experienced an earthquake, it is both an unsettling and slightly frightening situation. Are we headed toward an earthquake disaster?

You've probably seen the viral video of KTLA news anchors ducking under their desk on St. Patrick's Day after an earthquake rocked their studio. According to CNN, on March 28th a 5.1 magnitude earthquake happened in the greater Los Angeles area followed by after shocks up to 4.1. Generally speaking, a 5.1 earthquake isn't the end of the world but you will definitely feel it. Seismologists are starting to look at trending data to see if the “Big One,” or at least a huge earthquake is in store for Southern California.

Then on Sunday, March 30th, Huffington Post reports there was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake at Yellowstone National Park. This may not seem like a huge deal, but considering it's the largest earthquake there since the 1980s, it does seem more significant than the small tremors they experience daily. Oh by the way, the Yellowstone Caldera, a super volcano, is located in the park and hasn't erupted for thousands of years. Though it seems right now we aren't at risk for becoming Pompeii it's still a little disconcerting.

Earthquake disaster flicks aren't anything new, and there is even an upcoming film slated for next summer starring Dwayne Johnson called San Andreas, aptly named for the San Andreas fault line under Los Angeles. Beyond that, last year saw the release of a film called Aftershock a thriller about the hellish aftermath of an earthquake. If these films are true to what would happen during an actual earthquake disaster, we are either doomed or are going to depend on a muscley hero to save the day.

So maybe these earthquakes aren't the end of the world just yet. Geologists are continuing to monitor all data and hopefully, if it is time for the, “Big One,” we will be able to predict it. Otherwise, here's hoping we at least make cool and terrifying plaster busts when someone digs up our cities in the future.